Semi-literate people on the Internet

debodun

debodun

SF VIP
Location
way upstate in New York, USA
On another message board I belong to, I am amazed at the bad spelling and atrocious grammar people use. Some posts don't make any sense (it's like trying to understand a Hippie spaced out on goofballs, sounding like a string of free association). One day I asked the members to post their favorite quotes having to do with cats. I got a lot of "Meows!" I wonder if they even know what a quote is.
 

But isn't what really matters ordinary people communicating with each other?

I am well aware that when I write here I write as I would speak rather than be concerned about structure or grammar and must confess to letting "spellcheck" have control a lot of the time but it is after all mostly a recreational thing rather than a submission for a learned journal.

Maybe it's just me.
 
aeron said:
But isn't what really matters ordinary people communicating with each other?

I am well aware that when I write here I write as I would speak rather than be concerned about structure or grammar and must confess to letting "spellcheck" have control a lot of the time but it is after all mostly a recreational thing rather than a submission for a learned journal.

Maybe it's just me.
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No, actually I do the same thing. I know better than to start a sentence with "but" or end one with a preposition. Sometimes I misspell words and sometimes the spellcheck inserts another word and I miss it. No biggie. I also have a habit of talking backwards and do try to correct myself so others will understand.
 

aeron said:
Maybe it's just me.
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I know this is a personal hang-up for me. I guess I am just an English usage snob. I always proof my posts before submitting. Once in a while a few goofs get through, but not as many as I see all over the Internet. I wonder if people even proof-read their comments before posting?
 
Nobody's perfect. A person should at least make an attempt out of consideration for the reader.

If I see a large block of text with no paragraphs to separate different ideas, I won't read it.

I don't care about spelling. I don't even care if your paragraphs aren't correct. Just give me some white spaces between a bunch of sentences so your thoughts are easier to read.
 
There's lots more important things in life than good spelling and grammar. We can only control ourselves, not other people. We can't shame them into better spelling or being punctual or prioritizing the same things you do. The real joy in life is acceptance and empathy for others regardless of their flaws. In some of your posts, complaining about other people's actions, I wonder if instead you might look within to ask how you can react differently.
 
As an English Major I am meticulous with spelling. In fact unless I purposely misspell to be funny I will go back and edit if one letter is out of line. But sadly on the other paw there are some folks that just don't spell so good. I can barely do simple arithmetic. Bad spellers have spell check and I have a calculator. The point is...isn't communication lovely?

I do find it laugh out loud funny when posters go all rabid and their spelling falls by the wayside. Their replies start going all " WAT DO you mean Im an Idioit?!!!! Obvoiously you don't understand the ISue AT ALL!!!"...
 
I can't stand "Grammar Nazi's" on forums.

If you don't like how I formulate my thoughts into words or how I spell there is a little feature called a 'Ignore Button'......use it.
 
Carla said:
No, actually I do the same thing. I know better than to start a sentence with "but" or end one with a preposition. Sometimes I misspell words and sometimes the spellcheck inserts another word and I miss it. No biggie. I also have a habit of talking backwards and do try to correct myself so others will understand.
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Starting a sentence with But is proper English.
 
debodun said:
On another message board I belong to, I am amazed at the bad spelling and atrocious grammar people use. Some posts don't make any sense (it's like trying to understand a Hippie spaced out on goofballs, sounding like a string of free association). One day I asked the members to post their favorite quotes having to do with cats. I got a lot of "Meows!" I wonder if they even know what a quote is.
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I know what you're talking about Deb. The people who have awful spelling, not just typos. It drives me up the wall, too. They come across as looking like morons IMHO.
 
Well now, I'm new to this site and I'm just scrollin' along lookin' at post and what not. I might be gettin' skeered that because I'm just a redneck hillbilly I could be ostracized. Oops sorry if I used a big word. No matter, I'll just keep scrollin' and talk the way I talk.:D
 
Nah, my writing idol is Dave Barry. He won a Pulitzer Prize for writing. But he had a professor who basically told him he would never be a writer, stick to his day job. I failed grammar in college like three times and had to cheat to pass the basic course. N' I think proper grammar can be useless sometimes, write what you feel:D
 
debodun said:
On another message board I belong to, I am amazed at the bad spelling and atrocious grammar people use.
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I imagine some of it is typos, but even if some folks have bad spelling or grammar, as others have said, it's the thought and communication that counts.

Aunt Bea said:
Being perfect is a terrible burden, LOL!!!
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I know Aunt Bea, I can definitely relate! I actually had to special order this shirt for myself, they didn't even have my size! :mad:

 
Seeker said:
I might be gettin' skeered that because I'm just a redneck hillbilly I could be ostracized
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Well shoot fire cuz Ostracized ain't a big word here bouts, I got me a uncle that is rasin' them thar big ole chickens two hollers over......I hate to sound like a Grammar Nazi but I think you spelt it wrong, I'm pert near positive that it's spelt Ostrichized. :)
 
IKE said:
Well shoot fire cuz Ostracized ain't a big word here bouts, I got me a uncle that is rasin' them thar big ole chickens two hollers over......I hate to sound like a Grammar Nazi but I think you spelt it wrong, I'm pert near positive that it's spelt Ostrichized. :)
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That's what I'm talkin' bout. My granddaddy could raise some chickens down in the holler.Dweight Carson Lemmons Papaw Lemmons.jpg
 
I don't think debodun meant any offence.

I'm just a loser with an Associates degree but I remember learning in school what to put in quotation marks. Heard it once and I got it. I'm amazed at people who do not understand that simple concept.

Instead of stated "you shut up" people will put "she said I should shut up" The later is not quoting what came out of someone's mouth.

But my spelling sucks so thank goodness for spell check!
 
debodun said:
On another message board I belong to, I am amazed at the bad spelling and atrocious grammar people use. Some posts don't make any sense (it's like trying to understand a Hippie spaced out on goofballs, sounding like a string of free association). One day I asked the members to post their favorite quotes having to do with cats. I got a lot of "Meows!" I wonder if they even know what a quote is.
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:lofl: C'mon Debodun. That is really funny.
 
IKE said:
Well shoot fire cuz Ostracized ain't a big word here bouts, I got me a uncle that is rasin' them thar big ole chickens two hollers over......I hate to sound like a Grammar Nazi but I think you spelt it wrong, I'm pert near positive that it's spelt Ostrichized. :)
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Lurch, in your case, the true spelling is OSSIFIED.
 

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